The institutions and projects on this panel, moderated by Duane Degler, are using linked data and modern technologies to achieve long-term outcomes for themselves and others. Their stories describe gaining commitment, navigating challenges, evolving workflows, changing culture, learning from others, and achieving successes.
The American Art Collaborative institutions have created a common linked data approach. Kate Blanch, Walters Art Museum, co-leads the cross-institutional Data Working Group, helping partners “make it happen.” The AAC created reusable applications to browse the integrated collection, and tools for partners to review and connect their data.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is combining 70 scholarly entries, 8 long-form essays, and over 6,000 archival items into a rich, browsable site that will grow to thousands of objects and archival holdings in the coming years. They are also embarking on a new project, creating an international research portal that integrates museum, library, and archive information. Kristen Regina and Karina Wratschko explore these initiatives.
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has begun creating a holistic digital ecosystem for its wealth of assets about this significant American Modernist. Liz Ehrnst will describe how this ecosystem allows O’Keeffe staff to enhance information for use by researchers. Over time, they aim to extend this ecosystem to partner institutions, public researchers, and art enthusiasts.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) is a leader in linked data use, as well as in the American Art Collaborative. Sara Snyder, of the museum’s Media and Technology Office, works with her digital team to craft a strategy that uses public-facing projects to incentivize the hard work of revamping backend data/web systems. She’ll share how SAAM has leveraged external connections in the LOD sphere while at the same time finding ways to improve the flow of data and assets across the museum’s various departments and silos.
The Getty is working to establish linked data resources as a “Lingua Franca” for cultural information. The strategy team collaborates with museums and the open source community to make it easier for institutions to achieve the goals described by the panelists in this session.
The panel is moderated by Duane Degler, Design for Context.